The North Korean government presented the United States with a bill for $2 million for the hospital care of Otto Warmbier, the American college student who was held as a prisoner by Pyongyang, and insisted the US sign a pledge to pay the bill before releasing him from their custody in 2017, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The bill was handed to Joseph Yun, the former State Department Special Representative for North Korea who traveled to Pyongyang in June 2017 to bring Warmbier home, the sources told CNN.
Warmbier was in a comatose state at the time of his release from North Korean custody and died a few days after returning to the United States.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Symone Sanders, Bernie’s Former Press Secretary, Goes to Work on Biden’s Campaign
Sanders, who had been uncommitted throughout the cycle, is a CNN political commentator and has worked with Priorities USA, the largest Democratic Party Super PAC. She was a major hire for Sanders during the 2016 campaign, coming just as he faced criticism over the lack of diversity on his staff. But in the summer of 2016, she quit the campaign, at the time saying she did so of her own volition.
Sanders is a prominent progressive voice and a regular presence on cable news, giving Biden a valuable addition to his team. But she hasn’t always been sympatico with the former vice president. Recently, Sanders chastised Biden for cracking jokes in response to the unwanted touching allegations leveled against him by several women with whom he’d interacted during his career.
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Former acting ICE director calls for national operation over migrants disobeying court orders to leave
Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting director and Fox News contributor Tom Homan called on Wednesday for the Trump administration to pursue a national law-enforcement operation that would target illegal immigrants remaining in the United States after a judge ordered them out of the country.
"We need to do operationally what Congress is failing to do legislatively," Homan said after blasting congressional Democrats for inaction. A national operation, Homan indicated while appearing on "Your World with Neil Cavuto," would help deter illegal border crossings.
"I ran an operation like that three-and-a-half years ago, and the results were, the border numbers went down significantly," Homan told Neil Cavuto.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tom-homan-national-operation-remove-migrants-disobeying-court-orders
"We need to do operationally what Congress is failing to do legislatively," Homan said after blasting congressional Democrats for inaction. A national operation, Homan indicated while appearing on "Your World with Neil Cavuto," would help deter illegal border crossings.
"I ran an operation like that three-and-a-half years ago, and the results were, the border numbers went down significantly," Homan told Neil Cavuto.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tom-homan-national-operation-remove-migrants-disobeying-court-orders
House oversight chairman cites 'massive' obstruction by Trump, Barr
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic chairman of the House Oversight Committee accused the Trump administration of a “massive, unprecedented, and growing pattern of obstruction” for ordering federal employees not to comply with congressional investigations.
“Both President Trump and Attorney General Barr are now openly ordering federal employees to ignore congressional subpoenas and simply not show up - without any assertion of a valid legal privilege,” U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings said in a statement.
The Justice Department on Wednesday rebuffed the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which had sought to interview an official involved in the Trump administration’s decision to put a citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. Census.
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“Both President Trump and Attorney General Barr are now openly ordering federal employees to ignore congressional subpoenas and simply not show up - without any assertion of a valid legal privilege,” U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings said in a statement.
The Justice Department on Wednesday rebuffed the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which had sought to interview an official involved in the Trump administration’s decision to put a citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. Census.
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Mickey Dunn on Term Limits: Permanent Political Class Was ‘Never the Intention of the Founding Fathers’
Mickey Dunn, president and CEO of ML Industries and advocate for term limits and founder of TermLimitsTexas.com, said term limits on elected representatives in the Lone Star State will combat the entrenchment of the permanent political class. He offered his remarks on Tuesday’s edition of SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Daily with host Alex Marlow.
“No one wants change, especially those that have been elected and in office a long time,” stated Dunn. “So we started going down that path and formed Term Limits Texas to take back Texas and give it back to the people. What’s happened is that politicians have forgotten that they represent us. Right now, if you take a poll in Texas or the United States of America, over 80 percent of people say they want term limits. It doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat, a Republican, or an independent. Everyone wants term limits. At a time in this nation when no one agrees on anything, and you have 80 percent of the people saying they want term limits, why can’t we get this passed?”
Dunn added, “Currently, there are 15 states that have full-blown term limits. I think there are maybe 30 states with roughly some form of term limits. Particularly, Florida is a great example of term limits in how they’ve been able to thrive. The economy is phenomenal there. Just last week, I had the opportunity to speak with the new governor, Ron DeSantis. We spoke, and he told me that one of the greatest things Florida ever did was pass term limits, because it gives the opportunity for new blood, for new ideas, less complacency. You get people that want to come in and serve, and get the job done, and then move on.”
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“No one wants change, especially those that have been elected and in office a long time,” stated Dunn. “So we started going down that path and formed Term Limits Texas to take back Texas and give it back to the people. What’s happened is that politicians have forgotten that they represent us. Right now, if you take a poll in Texas or the United States of America, over 80 percent of people say they want term limits. It doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat, a Republican, or an independent. Everyone wants term limits. At a time in this nation when no one agrees on anything, and you have 80 percent of the people saying they want term limits, why can’t we get this passed?”
Dunn added, “Currently, there are 15 states that have full-blown term limits. I think there are maybe 30 states with roughly some form of term limits. Particularly, Florida is a great example of term limits in how they’ve been able to thrive. The economy is phenomenal there. Just last week, I had the opportunity to speak with the new governor, Ron DeSantis. We spoke, and he told me that one of the greatest things Florida ever did was pass term limits, because it gives the opportunity for new blood, for new ideas, less complacency. You get people that want to come in and serve, and get the job done, and then move on.”
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Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons Proposed
Public Input Complete, Federal Approval is Final Step
After receiving and reviewing public input, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected the 2019 – 2020 migratory game bird hunting seasons. These recommendations are now awaiting final approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In addition to close consultation with Governor Hogan’s Wildlife Advisory Commission and the Migratory Game Bird Advisory Committee, the department conducted an extensive public outreach effort to develop and propose the 2019-20 migratory game bird hunting season package.
“These interactive steps involving public input are a critical component of our annual season selection process.” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “We strive to offer hunting seasons that work for all Marylanders and we sincerely thank all those who took the time to provide input into this process.”
Highlights of the department’s recommendations include:
- Youth waterfowl hunting days on Nov. 2, 2019 and Feb. 8, 2020;
- Regular duck hunting season segments from Oct. 12-19, Nov. 16 -29 and Dec. 16 – Jan. 31, 2020 with a daily bag limit of six, including two canvasbacks; the mallard bag limit is now two birds (maximum of one hen) per day;
- Migratory Atlantic Population Canada goose hunting segments from Dec. 20 to Jan. 4, 2020 and Jan. 14 to Jan. 31, 2020, with a daily bag limit of one;
- The special season for sea ducks in the designated zone from Nov. 2 – Jan.10, 2020; and
- Mourning dove season segments from Sept. 2 – Oct. 19, Oct. 26 – Nov. 29, and Dec. 21 – Jan. 10, 2020.
Licenses, stamps, and permits may be purchased online by phone at 855-855-3906, at a Natural Resources Service Center or at any one of the more than 250 Sport License Agents statewide.
Hunters with questions should call 410-260-8540.
Student due to join Western Michigan University beheaded in Saudi Arabia
One of the 37 men beheaded in Saudi Arabia for allegedly cooperating with terrorists was a teenager about to attend Western Michigan University when he was arrested in 2012.
Mujtaba al-Sweikat, 24, was arrested in 2012, when he was 17 and due to fly to the United States, after being accused of attending a pro-democracy rally during the Arab Spring, according to the Detriot Free Press. He had been planning to pursue an undergraduate degree in finance.
Al-Sweikat was charged by the Saudi government with "with armed disobedience against the king ... attacking, shooting and injuring security forces, civilians and passersby." He was also charged with destroying public property, disrupting the peace, and cooperating with a terrorist cell.
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Mujtaba al-Sweikat, 24, was arrested in 2012, when he was 17 and due to fly to the United States, after being accused of attending a pro-democracy rally during the Arab Spring, according to the Detriot Free Press. He had been planning to pursue an undergraduate degree in finance.
Al-Sweikat was charged by the Saudi government with "with armed disobedience against the king ... attacking, shooting and injuring security forces, civilians and passersby." He was also charged with destroying public property, disrupting the peace, and cooperating with a terrorist cell.
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SICK. Far Left High School History Book Depicts President Trump as Mentally Ill and his Supporters as Violent Racists
A new history book for high school students “By the People” is littered with anti-Trump filth. The children’s book depicts Trump as mentally ill and his supporters as racists and violence.
Many Advanced Placement students across the fruited plain will be using an American History textbook that depicts President Trump as mentally ill and his supporters as racists.More
The textbook, published by Pearson Education, is titled, “By the People: A History of the United States.” It was first exposed by radio host Alex Clark in 2018.
The final section of the book, titled, “The Angry Election of 2016” is especially critical of the president.
“Most thought that Trump was too extreme a candidate to win the nomination, but his extremism, his anti-establishment rhetoric, and, some said, his not very hidden racism connected with a significant number of primary voters,” the author wrote.
Rudy Giuliani: “Keep Your Eye on Ukraine. That’s Where a Lot of Dirty Work Was Done”
On Tuesday guest reporter Collin McMahon wrote about the origins of the Trump-Russia Collusion hoax with a Soros-funded Ukrainian activist group.
The Russiagate affair began with documents released by groups funded by billionaire activist George Soros, it now emerges. Now it is clear that under Barack Obama, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev worked closely with Soros-related groups to compile opposition research on the Trump campaign.
Ukrainian law enforcement officials have tried to share their information on collusion between Obama officials, the Clinton campaign, Soros NGOs and Ukrainian government with the Justice Department, so far unsuccessfully, John Solomon writes. Deputy Head of the Prosecutor General’s International Legal Cooperation Department Kostiantyn Kulyk told Solomon: “We were supposed to share this information during a working trip to the United States… However, the [U.S.] ambassador blocked us from obtaining a visa. She didn’t explicitly deny our visa, but also didn’t give it to us.”
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The Russiagate affair began with documents released by groups funded by billionaire activist George Soros, it now emerges. Now it is clear that under Barack Obama, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev worked closely with Soros-related groups to compile opposition research on the Trump campaign.
Ukrainian law enforcement officials have tried to share their information on collusion between Obama officials, the Clinton campaign, Soros NGOs and Ukrainian government with the Justice Department, so far unsuccessfully, John Solomon writes. Deputy Head of the Prosecutor General’s International Legal Cooperation Department Kostiantyn Kulyk told Solomon: “We were supposed to share this information during a working trip to the United States… However, the [U.S.] ambassador blocked us from obtaining a visa. She didn’t explicitly deny our visa, but also didn’t give it to us.”
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BUSTED: Socialist Andrew Gillum Pays $5,000 in Fines For Ethics Violations – After Denying Wrongdoing
Former Tallahassee Mayor and failed socialist candidate for Governor of Florida Andrew Gillum has opted to end the lengthy ethics investigation into him by paying $5000 in fines, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Gillum illegally accepted numerous gifts from lobbyists during his time as Mayor of Florida’s capitol city, including trips to the Caribbean, ticket to the hit Broadway musical Hamilton and other luxury items. He spent the entire campaign against pro-Trump Republican nominee Ron DeSantis denying that he ever did anything wrong and claiming that he would be vindicated.
However, the settlement reached with the Florida Ethics Commission does not mean Gillum was cleared of wrongdoing… only that he was willing to pay a $5,000 fine to end the investigation before it dug any deeper into his alleged misdeeds. He also agreed to a count of accepting a gift from a lobbyist worth more than $100, which included a private, nearly 2-hour long boat cruise around Manhattan.
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Gillum illegally accepted numerous gifts from lobbyists during his time as Mayor of Florida’s capitol city, including trips to the Caribbean, ticket to the hit Broadway musical Hamilton and other luxury items. He spent the entire campaign against pro-Trump Republican nominee Ron DeSantis denying that he ever did anything wrong and claiming that he would be vindicated.
However, the settlement reached with the Florida Ethics Commission does not mean Gillum was cleared of wrongdoing… only that he was willing to pay a $5,000 fine to end the investigation before it dug any deeper into his alleged misdeeds. He also agreed to a count of accepting a gift from a lobbyist worth more than $100, which included a private, nearly 2-hour long boat cruise around Manhattan.
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Giuliani knocks Clinton's Trump indictment claims, says old DOJ policy of 'you cannot indict a Clinton' will change
President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani turned the tables Wednesday on Hillary Clinton over her claims that President Trump would have been indicted by Robert Mueller if he weren’t in office, saying there used to be a policy of “you cannot indict a Clinton”, but that’s about to change.
“There is a woman who really obstructed justice,” Giuliani said of Clinton during an appearance on "Fox and Friends". “The president didn't delete 33,000 emails. He didn't have somebody smash up telephones. And he didn't have someone wipe out a server and bleach it, among the few things that she did. The president was innocent of the underlying crime.”
“Collusion delusion. No collusion. If you are innocent on the underlying crime, then everything they are talking about is an effort for him to defend himself. If I tell somebody that I'm innocent, please, testify on my behalf and say what happened, am I obstructing justice or am I defending myself and serving justice,” he added.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/giuliani-hillary-clinton-trump-indictment
“There is a woman who really obstructed justice,” Giuliani said of Clinton during an appearance on "Fox and Friends". “The president didn't delete 33,000 emails. He didn't have somebody smash up telephones. And he didn't have someone wipe out a server and bleach it, among the few things that she did. The president was innocent of the underlying crime.”
“Collusion delusion. No collusion. If you are innocent on the underlying crime, then everything they are talking about is an effort for him to defend himself. If I tell somebody that I'm innocent, please, testify on my behalf and say what happened, am I obstructing justice or am I defending myself and serving justice,” he added.
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/giuliani-hillary-clinton-trump-indictment
Mississippi Resident Takes Gun Away from Intrusion Suspect, Shoots Him to Death
A 19-year-old Vicksburg, Mississippi, resident wrestled a gun away from an intrusion suspect Monday morning then shot the suspect dead with the gun.
WAPT reported that the incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. after the 19-year-old noticed a door was ajar.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said, “A 19-year-old came home from work and noticed the back door was unsecured. About that time, a man with a gun came out of one of the bedrooms.”
Magnolia State Live reported that the 19-year-old and the suspect, 28-year-old Malcolm Robertson, began to wrestle for control of the gun. The 19-year-old gained control of the firearm and shot Robertson multiple times. Robertson was pronounced dead approximately one hour later.
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WAPT reported that the incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. after the 19-year-old noticed a door was ajar.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said, “A 19-year-old came home from work and noticed the back door was unsecured. About that time, a man with a gun came out of one of the bedrooms.”
Magnolia State Live reported that the 19-year-old and the suspect, 28-year-old Malcolm Robertson, began to wrestle for control of the gun. The 19-year-old gained control of the firearm and shot Robertson multiple times. Robertson was pronounced dead approximately one hour later.
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A Viewer Writes.........
Road in the City Park approaching bridge cut through
JOE
- The new road and with planters approaching the Little Bridge is not accessible for vehicles. There are going to be accidents the road with the planter areas in the middle approaching the bridge are too narrow. Any vehicle larger than a compact car is going to have trouble especially any kind of larger trucks like delivery trucks, fire trucks, ambulances will have trouble and it will be even worse with icy roads or water run off like we have often from storms. Who ever is responsible needs to review this be it the Mayor, City Council, Road Dept or whom ever. The planters are not necessary safety should be the concern, is this just another stupid thing we are doing just for looks and wasting $ where it is not necessary, and it really was not thought through by those responsible.
JOE
- The new road and with planters approaching the Little Bridge is not accessible for vehicles. There are going to be accidents the road with the planter areas in the middle approaching the bridge are too narrow. Any vehicle larger than a compact car is going to have trouble especially any kind of larger trucks like delivery trucks, fire trucks, ambulances will have trouble and it will be even worse with icy roads or water run off like we have often from storms. Who ever is responsible needs to review this be it the Mayor, City Council, Road Dept or whom ever. The planters are not necessary safety should be the concern, is this just another stupid thing we are doing just for looks and wasting $ where it is not necessary, and it really was not thought through by those responsible.
WCSO Press Releases - April 24, 2019
Incident: False Identity to Avoid Prosecution
Date of Incident: 20 April 2019
Location: Ocean Gateway at Connelly Mill Road, Delmar, MD
Suspect: Concetta C. Ethridge-Foster, 30, Philadelphia, PA
Narrative: On 20 April 2019 at 1:47 AM, a deputy stopped a vehicle operated by Concetta Ethridge-Foster for multiple traffic violations. During the encounter, the operator provided a different identity that the deputy was unable to verify. Ethridge-Foster stated she did have a valid license but that she had left it in Pennsylvania. The deputy spent forty minutes with Ethridge-Foster attempting to verify her identity with no success. At one point, Ethridge-Foster provided a driver’s license number to the deputy that she claimed was sent to her by a family member back home. After that number came back to a much older person of a different race and sex, the deputy explained that Ethridge-Foster was out of opportunities. At this point she provided her Pennsylvania issued identification card with her real information on it.
Ethridge-Foster’s privilege to drive a vehicle had been suspended by the State of Pennsylvania. After discovering that Ethridge-Foster’s passenger also did not have a valid driver’s license either, the deputy had their vehicle towed to an impound lot.
The deputy placed Ethridge-Foster under arrest for lying about her identity and driving while suspended. She was then transported to the Central Booking unit where she was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. She was subsequently released after posting a bond.
Charges: Driving Without a License, Driving on a Suspended Out of State License, Vehicle Driver Giving False and Fictitious Name to Uniformed Police
Date of Incident: 20 April 2019
Location: 100 block of Francis Drive, Salisbury, MD
Suspect: Samantha K. Brotzman, 23, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 20 April 2019 at 12:30 PM, a deputy responded to a residence in the 100 block of Francis Drive for the report of an altercation that had turned physical. Upon arrival, the deputy met with a male victim who advised he was involved in an argument with Samantha Brotzman when she began assaulting him repeatedly with a closed fist.
The male subject stated he went outside at which point Brotzman did also and she then reportedly punched another female victim in the face with a closed fist.
During the investigation the deputy observed signs of injury that corroborated the victims’ accounts. After learning that Brotzman and the male victim were in a relationship, the deputy placed her under arrest. Brotzman was transported to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. Following an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Brotzman in the Detention Center without bond pending a bond review in front of a District Court Judge.
Charges: Assault 2nd Degree (two counts)
Incident: DUI Collision
Date of Incident: 20 April 2019
Location: 27000 block of Riverside Drive, Fruitland, MD
Suspect: Denver M. Callahan, 57, Salisbury, MD
Narrative: On 20 April 2019 at 4:30 PM, a deputy responded to the 27000 block of Riverside Drive just south of Fruitland for a reported motor vehicle collision with injury. During the deputy’s investigation, the deputy determined that a vehicle travelling on Riverside Drive and operated by Denver Callahan side-swiped another vehicle after crossing the double yellow lane into the opposing lane of traffic.
After detecting an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Callahan along with other indicators of impairment, the deputy decided to conduct sobriety testing. Following that testing, the deputy placed Callahan under arrest for Driving Under the influence of Alcohol.
Callahan refused to submit to a breath test for alcohol content.
Callahan was released upon the issuance of citations.
Charges: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Failure to Drive Right of Center
'Mother of all caravans' heads north: 10K migrants due in Mexico City any day
A massive caravan of approximately 10,000 migrants traveling through Mexico in hopes of reaching the United States is expected to arrive in Mexico City this week, according to local media reports on the group's movements.
The group has been described by Mexico's Interior Secretary Olga Sanchez Cordero as "caravana madre," which has been widely referred to as the "mother of all caravans" in American media.
Around 90 people embarked from El Salvador the last week of March then crossed into Guatemala and then into Mexico. By March 29, Sanchez said the group was expected to exceed 20,000 members. Although the caravan is roughly half that size currently, it has been reported as one of the most diverse groups because in addition to Central Americans, it is made up of people from Cuba, Haiti, and Africa.
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The group has been described by Mexico's Interior Secretary Olga Sanchez Cordero as "caravana madre," which has been widely referred to as the "mother of all caravans" in American media.
Around 90 people embarked from El Salvador the last week of March then crossed into Guatemala and then into Mexico. By March 29, Sanchez said the group was expected to exceed 20,000 members. Although the caravan is roughly half that size currently, it has been reported as one of the most diverse groups because in addition to Central Americans, it is made up of people from Cuba, Haiti, and Africa.
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Disney heiress calls out wage inequality at Walt Disney Company
Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Roy Disney and grandniece of Walt Disney, is calling on Walt Disney Company executives to give their bonuses to some of the company's lowest-paid employees.
In an opinion piece for the Washington Post titled, "It’s time to call out Disney — and anyone else rich off their workers’ backs," Abigail Disney wrote how she seemed to strike a nerve with people over the weekend with a Twitter thread about the Disney company's wage inequality.
Before diving in too far, Disney pointed out that she speaks only for herself and no other members of her family.
She explained that she "had to speak out about the naked indecency" of CEO Bob Iger's pay. Disney pointed out that Iger reportedly made more than $65 million in 2018, which she said is 1,424 times the median pay of a typical Disney employee.
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In an opinion piece for the Washington Post titled, "It’s time to call out Disney — and anyone else rich off their workers’ backs," Abigail Disney wrote how she seemed to strike a nerve with people over the weekend with a Twitter thread about the Disney company's wage inequality.
Before diving in too far, Disney pointed out that she speaks only for herself and no other members of her family.
She explained that she "had to speak out about the naked indecency" of CEO Bob Iger's pay. Disney pointed out that Iger reportedly made more than $65 million in 2018, which she said is 1,424 times the median pay of a typical Disney employee.
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Giuliani Lashes Out At Clintons: You Are "America's Number One Crime Family"
As Democrats continue to back away from trying to impeach President Trump for obstruction of the Mueller probe which cleared him of the underlying charge of conspiring with Russia in the 2016 election, Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani is on the war path - and is now targeting Hillary Clinton.
Following Tuesday remarks by Clinton that Donald Trump would have been indicted if he weren't president, Giuliani hit back in a Wednesday tweet - writing: "I encourage Hillary to get very involved in the 2020 election. She blew the last one for the Dems," adding "She is working on a book called “How To Obstruct And Go Free.” And the sequel will be “How My Husband Escaped” a perjury conviction.From America’s number one crime family."
Giuliani also appeared on Fox & Friends Wednesday, where he defended Trump - saying that Democrats "had two investigations to prove it," referring to collusion; "the FBI counterintelligence investigation - in the words of Peter Strzok - 'no there there', and then this one," referring to the Mueller probe.
"How this ever got started in the first place is the next investigation," Giuliani said, adding that Hillary Clinton "better get a lawyer."
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Following Tuesday remarks by Clinton that Donald Trump would have been indicted if he weren't president, Giuliani hit back in a Wednesday tweet - writing: "I encourage Hillary to get very involved in the 2020 election. She blew the last one for the Dems," adding "She is working on a book called “How To Obstruct And Go Free.” And the sequel will be “How My Husband Escaped” a perjury conviction.From America’s number one crime family."
Giuliani also appeared on Fox & Friends Wednesday, where he defended Trump - saying that Democrats "had two investigations to prove it," referring to collusion; "the FBI counterintelligence investigation - in the words of Peter Strzok - 'no there there', and then this one," referring to the Mueller probe.
"How this ever got started in the first place is the next investigation," Giuliani said, adding that Hillary Clinton "better get a lawyer."
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Florida House passes bill banning sanctuary cities
The Florida House passed a high-profile Republican bill Wednesday requiring local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and banning so-called "sanctuary city" policies that shield immigrants who are arrested.
After hours of debate over two days, the GOP-led House voted 69-47 largely along party lines for the measure, sending it over to the Senate where a similar bill is pending. Republicans have a narrow majority in the Florida state Senate.
Florida doesn't currently have any formal "sanctuary cities" like those in other states. The bill sponsored by GOP Rep. Cord Byrd of Jacksonville Beach would ban those policies and require local authorities to honor detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that can lead to a person's deportation.
Byrd and other Republicans cast it as a law-and-order measure that is aimed at generating respect for U.S. immigration laws.
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Committee report finds that local Medicare patients are paying 4x more for insulin than abroad
BALTIMORE — Maryland Medicare patients are paying 4.4 times more for brand-name diabetes medications than patients in Australia, according to a new report prepared by the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
They also found that on average, uninsured patients buying a popular insulin, Novolog Flexpen, will pay $650 for a month's supply compared to $28 in Australia.
Diabetics need insulin to survive, but for some people, they just can't afford it at today's prices.
Dr. Sherita Hill Golden, Executive Vice-Chair for the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has seen patients ration their supply to make it last longer or stop using their medications.
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They also found that on average, uninsured patients buying a popular insulin, Novolog Flexpen, will pay $650 for a month's supply compared to $28 in Australia.
Diabetics need insulin to survive, but for some people, they just can't afford it at today's prices.
Dr. Sherita Hill Golden, Executive Vice-Chair for the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has seen patients ration their supply to make it last longer or stop using their medications.
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JORDAN ASKS WATERS IF SHE WILL RECEIVE MAZARS DOCUMENTS FROM CUMMINGS AS PART OF DEMOCRATS’ COORDINATED INVESTIGATIONS
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jim Jordan, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) asking whether she expects to receive any documents that Mazars USA LLP may provide in response to a subpoena from Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Under a nonpublic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Waters and Cummings, Waters must share the documents she may receive in response to her subpoena to Capital One Financial Corp. Waters and Cummings, along with other Democrat chairpersons, are conducting a coordinated and carefully managed campaign to attack the President and his family for political gain.
Excerpts of the Letter:
“According to news reports, you have issued a number of subpoenas to financial institutions, including Capital One Financial Corp. (Capital One), for sensitive personal financial records relating to President Donald Trump and his immediate family.”
“The nonpublic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between you and Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings requires you to share with Chairman Cummings any documents that you may receive pursuant to your subpoena.”
“Both your subpoena to Capital One and Chairman Cummings’s subpoena to Mazars are part of a coordinated and carefully managed campaign to attack the President for political gain, a fact that Chairman Cummings has not disputed.”
Full text of the letter can be found here.
Excerpts of the Letter:
“According to news reports, you have issued a number of subpoenas to financial institutions, including Capital One Financial Corp. (Capital One), for sensitive personal financial records relating to President Donald Trump and his immediate family.”
“The nonpublic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between you and Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings requires you to share with Chairman Cummings any documents that you may receive pursuant to your subpoena.”
“Both your subpoena to Capital One and Chairman Cummings’s subpoena to Mazars are part of a coordinated and carefully managed campaign to attack the President for political gain, a fact that Chairman Cummings has not disputed.”
Full text of the letter can be found here.
Data Undermine Booker Claim of Newark Rebound
Presidential contender Cory Booker (D.) claimed in a Tuesday interview with the Carroll Times Herald that he can bring the same revitalization to rural America that he did to Newark, N.J.
But if Booker wants to do to rural America what he did to Newark, then rural America needs to watch out. Data show that the New Jersey metropolis where Booker was a city council member (1998-2002) and mayor (2006-2013) continued to struggle during and after his time in government.
Following a campaign stop in Carroll, Iowa, Booker told the Times Herald that his approach to reinvigorating Newark could "100%" revitalize rural America.
"I have a chip on my shoulder for any community, rural, Appalachian Mountain, factory town, any communities that are looked down on or left for dead or disrespected or underestimated," Booker told the Times Herald. "That gets my blood boiling. I think that our rural areas have wealth, have potential, have possibility, if we will come to them creatively and think about ways to restore what I think are important parts of our heritage."
More here
But if Booker wants to do to rural America what he did to Newark, then rural America needs to watch out. Data show that the New Jersey metropolis where Booker was a city council member (1998-2002) and mayor (2006-2013) continued to struggle during and after his time in government.
Following a campaign stop in Carroll, Iowa, Booker told the Times Herald that his approach to reinvigorating Newark could "100%" revitalize rural America.
"I have a chip on my shoulder for any community, rural, Appalachian Mountain, factory town, any communities that are looked down on or left for dead or disrespected or underestimated," Booker told the Times Herald. "That gets my blood boiling. I think that our rural areas have wealth, have potential, have possibility, if we will come to them creatively and think about ways to restore what I think are important parts of our heritage."
More here
Lawmakers roll out new bill to stop veteran suicides
A bipartisan group of lawmakers will unveil new legislation Wednesday to address a recent spate of high-profile veteran suicides and an uptick in suicide rates.
The bill, offered by New York Democrat Rep. Anthony Brindisi, and co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Jim Banks and Mike Bost, will require a review of the current training, workload and staffing at VA centers.
The announcement comes in the wake of renewed calls that not enough is being done to confront the enduring problem of elevated suicide rates at Veterans Affairs facility, after three U.S. military veterans died by suicide on VA properties in Texas and Georgia over the span of five days earlier this month.
In the past 18 months, at least 23 veterans have lost their lives to suicide at VA medical centers, according to VA data.
“Twenty veterans die by suicide every day. This is wrong and unacceptable, and we must do more,” said Rep. Brindisi.
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The bill, offered by New York Democrat Rep. Anthony Brindisi, and co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Jim Banks and Mike Bost, will require a review of the current training, workload and staffing at VA centers.
The announcement comes in the wake of renewed calls that not enough is being done to confront the enduring problem of elevated suicide rates at Veterans Affairs facility, after three U.S. military veterans died by suicide on VA properties in Texas and Georgia over the span of five days earlier this month.
In the past 18 months, at least 23 veterans have lost their lives to suicide at VA medical centers, according to VA data.
“Twenty veterans die by suicide every day. This is wrong and unacceptable, and we must do more,” said Rep. Brindisi.
More here
Wicomico Proposes Field For Adaptive Baseball Program
SALISBURY – Wicomico County Recreation & Parks announced plans for a new “Field 7.5” initiative during the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce’s post legislative luncheon on Thursday, April 18.
The field, which is proposed to be constructed at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury, would be designed to serve as a host facility for the Little League Challenger Division in District 8, serving Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties.
The Little League Challenger Division is an adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.
The proposed field would feature a smaller, open space concept with shade for participants. Field 7.5 would be positioned between fields 7 and 8, as the name suggests.
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The field, which is proposed to be constructed at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury, would be designed to serve as a host facility for the Little League Challenger Division in District 8, serving Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties.
The Little League Challenger Division is an adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.
The proposed field would feature a smaller, open space concept with shade for participants. Field 7.5 would be positioned between fields 7 and 8, as the name suggests.
More
Baltimore Sun staffers make a pitch for pay raises
As The Sun‘s newsroom heads toward negotiations with management over a new contract, staffers went on social media today to highlight one of their top priorities: pay raises.
Reporters posted pictures holding the green balloons with an upward-pointing arrow and the words “Rai$e Our Pay Now.” In a couple photos, the balloons appeared to be tied to nearly every desk in the paper’s Port Covington newsroom.
A common message among the posts on Twitter: wages have remained stagnant for years.
Scott Dance, an environmental reporter at The Sun and chair of the paper’s bargaining unit in the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, said salaries are the group’s number one priority.
“We haven’t had an across the board raise since 2013, though our managers have gotten a couple since then. And we haven’t negotiated a new contract since 2007,” he said. “So it’s long past time that we raise these concerns and get a real raise.”
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Reporters posted pictures holding the green balloons with an upward-pointing arrow and the words “Rai$e Our Pay Now.” In a couple photos, the balloons appeared to be tied to nearly every desk in the paper’s Port Covington newsroom.
A common message among the posts on Twitter: wages have remained stagnant for years.
Scott Dance, an environmental reporter at The Sun and chair of the paper’s bargaining unit in the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, said salaries are the group’s number one priority.
“We haven’t had an across the board raise since 2013, though our managers have gotten a couple since then. And we haven’t negotiated a new contract since 2007,” he said. “So it’s long past time that we raise these concerns and get a real raise.”
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Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid: How the Maryland Democratic Party is Still a Dumpster Fire
We’ve noted for a long long time that the Maryland Democratic Party is a dumpster fire. One reason that it’s so much of a dumpster fire, as we have also noted previously, is that there is nobody actually in charge of the party. There is nobody who can bring unity to party members, and nobody who can enforce order on the party.
Despite that, Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Maya Rockeymoore Cummings decided to interject herself into the race for Speaker of the House today.
It’s been widely reported and discussed, including here at Red Maryland, that the Maryland House Republican Caucus may be able to have a unique role in choosing the next speaker among the three Democrats seeking the position.
Rockeymoore Cummings is having absolutely none of that.
The full version of her remarks are below.
The Rockeymoore Cummings statement is full of bombast and bravado and consists mainly of hints, allegations, and things left unsaid. The bottom line up front of her comments are:
Despite that, Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Maya Rockeymoore Cummings decided to interject herself into the race for Speaker of the House today.
It’s been widely reported and discussed, including here at Red Maryland, that the Maryland House Republican Caucus may be able to have a unique role in choosing the next speaker among the three Democrats seeking the position.
Rockeymoore Cummings is having absolutely none of that.
The full version of her remarks are below.
The Rockeymoore Cummings statement is full of bombast and bravado and consists mainly of hints, allegations, and things left unsaid. The bottom line up front of her comments are:
- Democrats should unite behind a candidate for Speaker;
- Don’t even think about reaching out across the aisle to Republicans;
- The full brunt of the Democratic Party will be brought down upon anybody who doesn’t toe the line.
Delaware wouldn't grant Illegal Pete's an LLC because the state finds their name offensive: Court documents
WILMINGTON, Del. — Popular Boulder-based burrito chain Illegal Pete's is taking the Delaware Secretary of State's office to federal court over the denial of a limited liability corporation application. The state found the company's name offensive.
Illegal Pete's Inc. named Deputy Secretary of State Kristopher Knight and the Margaret Magnusen, the Secretary of State office's Corporations Section Manager, in their official capacities as defendants in this federal case.
9NEWS has left voicemail requests for comment for both the Delaware Secretary of State's office and Illegal Pete's. We will update this post when we hear back.
According to court documents, the burrito chain claims Knight and Magnusen were violating the company's free speech rights by denying their application because their name was found "offensive." The chain also claims part of the reason for the rejection was based on a misreading of Delaware state code.
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Illegal Pete's Inc. named Deputy Secretary of State Kristopher Knight and the Margaret Magnusen, the Secretary of State office's Corporations Section Manager, in their official capacities as defendants in this federal case.
9NEWS has left voicemail requests for comment for both the Delaware Secretary of State's office and Illegal Pete's. We will update this post when we hear back.
According to court documents, the burrito chain claims Knight and Magnusen were violating the company's free speech rights by denying their application because their name was found "offensive." The chain also claims part of the reason for the rejection was based on a misreading of Delaware state code.
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Annual Spaghetti Dinner
